National Immigration Forum 2015 Summary of Work

Transcription

1 National Immigration Forum 2015 Summary of Work OVERVIEW The National Immigration Forum is one of the leading immigrant advocacy organizations in the country, with a mission to advocate for the value of immigrants and immigration to the nation. Throughout the past year, the Forum has continued to work toward commonsense immigration reform, building broad coalitions through a range of constituencies and developing programs that strive to provide new Americans with the opportunities, skills and status that they need to thrive. Our work is focused on maximum impact. Specifically, our strategy is to build relationships with communities that are not seen as traditional allies evangelicals, law enforcement and the business community and on regions that traditionally have lacked support for immigrants and immigration but have significant numbers of these critical constituencies. In most cases, other immigrant rights organizations are not focused on these communities, so there are tremendous untapped opportunities to engage new allies. Recent events have borne out the wisdom of this approach, as we have been positioned to respond to developing events. We have learned that the right message with the right messenger builds support for immigrants and immigration, even among the most conservative of audiences.

2 IMMIGRATION 2020 AGENDA Irrefutable demographic changes are influencing the politics, policy and, fundamentally, the people of the United States. These changes will create new potential for our economy. By 2050, America will see a surprising 42 percent growth in the working-age population. A diverse workforce s ingenuity and productivity will sustain an aging population in the same time frame. And, with 61 percent of immigrants now calling suburbs home, the tripling of the Latino and Asian populations by 2050 will change the composition of communities across the nation. Moreover, immigrants make up 5 percent of our active-duty military. Because Americans see these changes every day and understand their importance through the voices of those they trust, we reached out to influential faith, law enforcement, education, community and business leaders across the country. Based on their input, we are proud to announce our vision for the future: our Immigration 2020 Agenda. We work toward a clear vision: For America to thrive, new Americans must have the opportunities, skills and status to reach their full potential. Developed in collaboration with partners across the country, this simple proposition guides our vision to achieve a five-point Immigration 2020 Agenda. By the year 2020, we hope to see: 1. A 21st-century immigration system that advances the social and economic interests of all Americans. 2. A workplace where all employees, including immigrants, have the skills and training to thrive. 3. Language learning for a global society, including access to English language learning for immigrants. 4. An active and vibrant citizenry: By promoting naturalization, we develop a diverse citizenry fully invested in and contributing to all aspects of civic and economic life. 5. Opportunities in the hands of striving Americans, ensuring that all Americans, no matter where they come from, have the tools and opportunities they need to succeed. From here, we will work with the Immigration 2020 Leadership Council and others to develop research, sharpen a narrative and advance local and national public policies that ensure America thrives because new Americans are reaching their fullest potential.

3 INITIATIVES AND SUCCESSES New American Workforce The Forum, through New American Workforce, is working to educate businesses on the value of citizenship and integration. In addition, with the help of local service providers, we work to identify and recruit business partners interested in helping their workforce with naturalization/citizenship services and providing stronger career pathways for new Americans, and encourage them to be vocal about their support for the value of immigrants to America. In the three years since its inception, New American Workforce has grown quickly, welcoming more than 200 new businesses across eight cities. Based on numbers of immigrants eligible to naturalize and private-sector interest, the Forum is working with service provider partners to expand projects in Houston; Los Angeles; Miami; New York City; San Diego; the San Jose/Bay Area; Washington, D.C.; and Detroit. Using our three-step process of information workshops, application workshops and English language and civics instruction, the program has continued to grow in these cities. In 2015, we had a 65 percent increase in the number of businesses that signed up to participate in the program, from 105 in January to 173 by December. Other accomplishments include: One new site (city) launched in citizenship services sessions held. More than 3,775 employees served at sessions. 25 business partners offering English as a second language and civics training. 285,365 employees educated about the benefits of citizenship. More than 3,078,000 members educated about the citizenship process through our business association partners. 545 press hits. 611,103,539 press impressions. Skills and Opportunity for the New American Workforce In November, the National Immigration Forum launched a groundbreaking program to increase the English language skills among retail workers for whom English is a second language.

4 The retail sector has one of the highest levels of limited-english-proficient workers, at nearly 1.5 million. Leaders within the retail sector are recognizing the profound impact that improved access to educational opportunities can have on advancement, retention, improved work quality and economic success. This project creates scalable, sectorwide contextualized English language learning that will help retailers build stronger career pathways for their employees. Bibles, Badges and Business for Immigration Reform (BBB) The Bibles, Badges and Business for Immigration Reform network (BBB) launched in February 2013 to achieve the goal of broad immigration reform. The BBB coalition works with faith leaders, business owners and associations, and the law enforcement community to build broad networks of local leaders who are prepared to share their own stories of the importance of immigrants and immigration in their communities and local economies. With a lean infrastructure of targeted regional organizers and communications staff, BBB has developed crucial local and national partnerships to set in motion a range of strategies and tactics, often in the context of mini campaigns. As a result, BBB efforts have produced: Tremendous growth in number of supporters across the country, to nearly 9,000 people in key districts. More than 350 local and regional events. More than 300 new grasstops leaders in faith, business and law enforcement speaking publicly at events in favor of reform. Law Enforcement Immigration Task Force (LEITF) In January, law enforcement leaders from across the country who support commonsense immigration reform joined together to launch the Law Enforcement Immigration Task Force (LEITF). The LEITF grew rapidly in 2015 to 33 members. In the coming year, we will continue to build a network that is prepared to make the case for why immigration reform will help keep everyone in our communities safer..

5 WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS 2016 promises to be a watershed year for immigrants and immigration. We are uniquely positioned to build the broad coalitions that will be necessary to successfully and productively address the role of immigrants in our society and economy. We will continue to deepen our engagement with faith, law enforcement and business leaders across the country to move toward our goal of immigration reform and see immigrants reach their fullest potential. The National Immigration Forum would like to give special thanks to all of our generous supporters and dedicated allies. If you would like to join our efforts and support the National Immigration Forum, you may contribute on the web at or by mail. Please send your contributions to: National Immigration Forum 50 F Street, NW, Ste 300 Washington, D.C

6 BOARD OF DIRECTORS (AS OF DECEMBER 2015) Laura Foote Reiff, Chair Greenberg Traurig Eddie Aldrete, Vice Chair IBC Bank Rich Stolz, Treasurer OneAmerica Louis Malfaro, Secretary Texas AFT Sayu V. Bhojwani The New American Leaders Project Jeb Bush, Jr. Jeb Bush & Associates, LLC Renata Calderaro The Calderaro Tyrrell Law Group Manuel Cunha, Jr. Nisei Farmers League Cástulo de la Rocha AltaMed Health Services Corporation Bob Naerebout Idaho Dairymen s Association Fred Niehaus Interactive Global Services, LLC Suzii Paynter Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

7 Arturo Sarukhan Mexican Ambassador to the United States, The Most Reverend Jaime Soto Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento Dr. Warren H. Stewart, Sr. First Institutional Baptist Church Nan Stockholm Walden, J.D. Farmers Investment Co. (FICO) Felicia Wong The Roosevelt Institute

8 STAFF (AS OF DECEMBER 2015) Ali Noorani, Executive Director Mark Falzone, Deputy Director Laura Adviento, Digital Content and Design Associate Laurence Benenson, Policy and Advocacy Manager Meredith Brandt, Communications Associate Dawn Byrne, Director of Finance and Operations Adam Estle, Field Director Cathleen Farrell, Director of Communications Lucy Fyler, Communications and Policy Assistant Dan Gordon, Assistant Director of Communications Zach Lewis, Development Associate Robin Metalitz, Director of Development Jacinta Ma, Director of Policy and Advocacy Jennie Murray, Director of Integration Programs Ana Negoescu, Manager for Integration Programs Alissa Perman, Assistant for Integration Programs Kathy Tran, Policy and Advocacy Assistant Director for Skills and Workforce Development Ted Walsh, Finance and Operations Associate

9 Magen Wetmore, Constituencies Assistant

10 NATIONAL IMMIGRATION FORUM 2015 FUNCTIONAL REVENUE AND EXPENSE AND NET ASSETS Revenue Category Revenue Amount Foundation Grants 69.63% 3,324, Contributions 8.61% 411, Events 4.14% 197, Other Income 17.62% 841, $ 4,774,252.00

11 Expense Category Expenses Amount Communications 29.27% 1,290, Constituencies - Integration 33.00% 1,454, Constituencies - Reform 11.96% 527, Policy 11.42% 503, Awards event 2.44% 107, Associates & Governance 1.95% 86, Fundraising 4.30% 189, Management & General 5.66% 249, Total Expenses $ 4,408,210.00

12 Net Assets as of December 31, 2015 Net Assets Unrestricted Amount Undesignated 776, Board Designated 513, Total Unrestricted 1,290, Temporarily Restricted 3,412, $ Total Net Assets 4,702,489.00